I never related to Holden when I read it in Highschool but the value I got from the book was understanding that Holden only became the person that he was as a result of all the adults and authority figures in his life failing him. When all examples of authority you encounter growing up could be categorized as neglectful, apathetic, exploitative, and cruel of course you are going to grow up to be a bitter, spite-filled, self-centred, ass hole. That's why the whole bit of him wanting to be "the catcher in the rye" is so impactful, the only thing this dipshit ever wanted to be was an authority that would actually protect kids from turning into someone like himself. Or rather "Catching them from falling off the cliff at the edge of the rye field."
Funnily enough Ulysses was one of the novels which actually got me into literature. My father described it as one of the worst books hes ever tried reading and that theres no story, its just dude meandering around during one random day and while, yeah, technically true theres more to it but the thing which lit the literature light bulb in my head was that, you know, you can do that? You can write a book like that? A book doesnt have to have a standard plot and story arc and good guys and bad guys and all that? You can actually do whatever in literature? That was what got me into literature, that it wasnt constrained to the stories I never really cared for either as a kid or as a teen or even as an adult.
It’s like that with a lot of things too. Now that I’d like to learn an instrument, you realize how much you took for granted the music class you had to take in high school
I had to read Catcher in the Rye in 10th grade. I've never wanted to punch any fictional character in the face as much as Holden Caulfield. Though I now recall I also wanted to punch Hamlet in the face too. I was an angry English student.
I don't think I read Catcher in the Rye. There were other classics we read, but I don't remember them that much. I do remember reading Brave New World. I really liked it. I was one of those kids that actually asked the teacher if I could read ahead. 🤣
Never read Ulysses, but hearing her talk about it, it makes me think of those high-concept films and games where the consumer's ENJOYMENT of it is secondary to them EXPERIENCING what the creator is trying to do.
I had to read Catcher in the Rye in high school. I also hated that book because Holden Caufield (the main character) was such an awful character. It made it such a slog to get through. He is a nothing character that does practically nothing in the book and has zero character development. He starts and ends the book learning nothing and ends up like he started. The entire book feels pointless.
‘I didn’t go into writing because it seemed like such a hit-or-miss profession’ is kinda wild coming from a streamer
I never related to Holden when I read it in Highschool but the value I got from the book was understanding that Holden only became the person that he was as a result of all the adults and authority figures in his life failing him. When all examples of authority you encounter growing up could be categorized as neglectful, apathetic, exploitative, and cruel of course you are going to grow up to be a bitter, spite-filled, self-centred, ass hole. That's why the whole bit of him wanting to be "the catcher in the rye" is so impactful, the only thing this dipshit ever wanted to be was an authority that would actually protect kids from turning into someone like himself. Or rather "Catching them from falling off the cliff at the edge of the rye field."
Funnily enough Ulysses was one of the novels which actually got me into literature. My father described it as one of the worst books hes ever tried reading and that theres no story, its just dude meandering around during one random day and while, yeah, technically true theres more to it but the thing which lit the literature light bulb in my head was that, you know, you can do that? You can write a book like that? A book doesnt have to have a standard plot and story arc and good guys and bad guys and all that? You can actually do whatever in literature? That was what got me into literature, that it wasnt constrained to the stories I never really cared for either as a kid or as a teen or even as an adult.
It’s like that with a lot of things too. Now that I’d like to learn an instrument, you realize how much you took for granted the music class you had to take in high school
I had to read Catcher in the Rye in 10th grade. I've never wanted to punch any fictional character in the face as much as Holden Caulfield. Though I now recall I also wanted to punch Hamlet in the face too. I was an angry English student.
I don't think I read Catcher in the Rye. There were other classics we read, but I don't remember them that much. I do remember reading Brave New World. I really liked it. I was one of those kids that actually asked the teacher if I could read ahead. 🤣
Never read Ulysses, but hearing her talk about it, it makes me think of those high-concept films and games where the consumer's ENJOYMENT of it is secondary to them EXPERIENCING what the creator is trying to do.
It's an interesting experience, but I've never met anyone who associated it with enjoyment.
Ulysses becomes more readable if you read it as an early version of a shitpost
I had to read Catcher in the Rye in high school. I also hated that book because Holden Caufield (the main character) was such an awful character. It made it such a slog to get through. He is a nothing character that does practically nothing in the book and has zero character development. He starts and ends the book learning nothing and ends up like he started. The entire book feels pointless.
He seems a little too well written teenage character. He despises fake people and liars and is a fake liar.
Ulysses, 1920s shitposting.
Truly the evangelion of books
blood meridian?